Spiraling Humanitarian Crisis in CAR

The U.N. refugee agency has deployed additional emergency teams to the Central African Republic, where violence in the capital, Bangui, has forced more than 200,00 people to flee from their homes during the past two weeks.

Also, French and African intervention forces have been trying to quell the CAR unrest. The country descended into chaos in March after mostly Muslim rebels, known as Seleka, overthrew president Francois Bozize.

Months of looting and killing have brought retaliation by Bozize allies and Christian militias, known as anti-balaka.

VOA correspondent Idrisse Fall in Bangui says thousands of people are in dire straits after seeking refugee at the airport, which is under French protection.

"No mattress. No food. No nothing. No water. No electricity. Nothing. No latrine. No toilet. It is very, very - I can not describe what I saw there."

Fall says overall, Banqui is quiet.

"The French are here, the soldiers. There is not a lot of fighting. The anti-Balaka are here. The Seleka are here but there is not a lot of fighting going on. The streets are empty. You do not see a lot of people."

Relief organizations say recent fighting in the capital and elsewhere has left more than 600 people dead.